Women hooked on fighting
Black belt Kim Van Dooren (left) gives one-to-one training
Kim Van Dooren greets me in the old Turkish Delight factory at 10 Manor Road, now home to the Politi Arts Centre and also Van Dooren’s own All Girl Kickboxing.
Slim built, with alert brown eyes and shiny hair pulled back and moulded into a cool quiff, she does not immediately strike me as a black-belt.
It is her graceful posture that gives her away, and the power behind her handshake. Born in Zambia, Kim arrived in Hackney at 17 and in her twenties embraced the martial art Jeet Kune Do. Trained under the legendary Bob Breen, the top Jeet Kune Do instructor in the world, she earned her black belt in November 2008.
Jeet Kune Do is a mixed fighting system based on the philosophy of Bruce Lee, free from rules yet based on the idea that a fighter should do whatever is necessary, using whatever martial arts technique needed to defend themselves.
Having taught children at Breen’s academy for some time, Kim wanted to provide a place for women only that was not as intimidating as the male dominated dojo.
She also wanted to create an alternative to the gym, going far beyond kicksercise and boxercise. Kim’s training is strongly based on martial arts technique and she is serious about wanting women to “reclaim punching and kicking”.
The training’s great benefit is that not merely the building of core strength, but the feeling of self-confidence it brings.
“I had one girl who on the first lesson said to her friend (about her punch) ‘I didn’t expect it to feel like this’…cause I think she realised it’s quite pathetic until you know how. She’s been four times and her punch has gotten so much stronger and she’s loving it. When she whacks the pad now she gets a real kick.”
If you want to try something new, improve your technique, and risk getting hooked, the beginners’ kickboxing studio is open every Wednesday from 6.30- 7.30pm at Politi Arts Centre 10-12 Manor Road N16 5SA. Ages from 15 and up welcome. Drop-in session is £7. Kim also trains women one-to-one.
Contact kimvandooren@yahoo.com or 07968 869455.